Nintendo justifies Zelda-free 3DS launch

The 3DS remake of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will be out "when it's ready" and, in any case, there are more than enough launch games to satisfy the needs of core gamers picking up Nintendo's new handheld on day one, according to the platform holder.

In an interview with MTV, Nintendo US chief Reggie Fils-Aime explained, "Mario, Zelda - all of those titles are coming. From our perspective, we like to launch titles when they're ready. And so they'll be ready, they'll be ready soon. Just not in that initial time period of late March to early June."

Reggie added that the launch line-up is robust enough to satisfy the needs of serious gamers without the presence of Link and co.

"I would say 'Super Street Fighter 4,' I would say 'Dead or Alive,' I would say 'Madden' and I would say, yes, the three first-party launch games that we have, as well," he listed-off, highlighting a third party slate which he believes "is the best we've ever had for the launch of a new system."

Regarding those three first party titles, he added, "Between 'Nintendogs + Cats' and 'Pilotwings,' those two franchises, either on the original DS or on other legacy systems like the NES or Super NES, have sold tens of millions of copies. Those two franchises have a lot of strength all by themselves."

Then, in an impressive display of nonsense-speak, he singled out in-house curio Steel Diver for special mention.

"'Steel Diver' is a brand new experience, and from a compelling standpoint, we think it's awfully compelling."

As one of the first new IPs to emerge from Nintendo's EAD genius factory in aeons, the submarine sim certainly isn't to be sniffed at, even if it remains something of an unknown quantity at present. Take a look at the screens below to get better acquainted.

The Nintendo 3DS launches on 25th March, though the much-ballyhooed Ocarina of Time revamp doesn't have a release date as of yet. Johnny Minkley's hands-on impressions should help you with the wait.